Raising Pa.’s minimum wage remains a political football as Penn State-Pitt fans will notice on Saturday

Updated Sep 13, 2019; Posted Sep 13, 2019

This graphic depicts a banner that football fans attending the Penn State-Pitt game will see flying over Beaver Stadium and around the campus to rally support for increasing Pennsylvania's $7.25 hourly minimum wage.

Groups pushing for an increase in Pennsylvania’s $7.25 hourly minimum wage didn’t get their legislation across the goal line in June so they are taking to the airspace above Beaver Stadium on Saturday morning to send a message about this unfinished piece of legislative business.

Raise the Wage PA, a coalition of groups advocating for the wage increase, has arranged for a small plane pulling a banner displaying “PA workers deserve a living wage! Text WAGE to 33339” to buzz over the stadium area from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. where more than 100,000 mostly Pennsylvanians – and likely some state lawmakers – will gather to watch the Penn State-Pitt matchup.

Some 50 volunteers also will be canvassing around the university’s library as well as in the parking lots where tailgaters will gather. They plan to hand out palm cards with facts related to the issue and collect signatures on petitions in support of increasing the state’s minimum wage to $12 an hour by July and $15 by 2025.

During the game, advocates will hold up a banner in an end zone when the cameras are aimed in their direction.

“We’re just really excited about having the opportunity to have some face to face conversations with folks out there. We know it’s going to be well attended. It’s a big rivalry and we know lots of elected officials attend this event,” said Kadida Kenner, who is director of campaigns for the Harrisburg-based Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center. “We’re hoping to make sure that they get the message.”

The state’s $7.25 minimum wage has remained flat for the last decade at the lowest level the federal government allows. Pennsylvania is one of just 20 states that continues to rely on the federal minimum wage.

Momentum for raising the wage appeared to gain speed last spring with some Republican lawmakers expressed a willingness to consider it. But the seconds ticked away on the spring legislative session’s game clock and it didn’t get done. Wolf pledged “to keep fighting tooth and nail for a higher minimum wage.” And so did the issue’s advocates.

What better way to make a statement about the issue as the fall legislative session is about to kickoff in Harrisburg than by giving it visibility at an event that will draw people possibly from all counties across the state on Saturday, Kenner said.

“We thought that was a great opportunity to do something different,” she said. “Different demographics will be in attendance. We’ll have an opportunity to reach out to young folks as well. We’re excited."

Kenner said advocates plan to meet with lawmakers next week to deliver petitions and text messages gathered from the event.

“Right now we’re on third and goal,” Kenner said, describing where the issue now stands. “We want to yell touchdown."

Raise the Wage PA advocates aren’t stopping there, though. Kenner added they want to get a two-point conversion as well.

“We want to make sure we’re not only raising the wage but we’re also ensuring service workers who are currently making $2.83 an hour get the opportunity to make one fair wage,” she said. "And we want to make sure we end preemption so cities like Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and others can have local control about the wage in their municipality. We want more than a touchdown. We need a two-point conversion.”